I thought I would take this Independence Day to talk a little bit about the Statue of Liberty, who raises her torch over New York's harbor, welcoming tourists to come to Liberty Island. The 126-year-old statue weathered 2012's monster Hurricane Sandy successfully, but Liberty Island suffered serious damage from the storm and required some time to repair docks and pavement that were destroyed by the hurricane. But on July 4, 2013, after eight long months, the ferry started delivering visitors once more, just in time for our nation's birthday that year. The statue has been closed before, notably after 9/11 and also for renovations, so the public was happy to get another chance to come see Lady Liberty up close and even to venture inside.
The Statue of Liberty was a gift to the American people from the nation of France in celebration of our centennial, and after being assembled in France, shipped and installed on the island, it was presented to the public in an unveiling ceremony on October 28, 1886. The lady has been a symbol of welcome, as she stands in the harbor to which many foreign vessels traveled, and also because she overlooks Ellis Island, for many years the location at which immigrants from Europe entered the country. Emma Lazarus created the iconic poem that is displayed on a plaque at the base of the statue, containing the well-known lines "Give me your tired, your poor/Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free", another message that the United States of America was willing to serve as a refuge for immigrants fleeing persecution or poverty in their countries of origin and hoping to start a new, better life in this land.
So a gift from France becomes a gift to all; to those who follow the promise of a better life for themselves and their families, and also for those who have achieved that better life, to visit the historical icon that symbolizes hope and freedom for all.
Image from Wikimedia Commons, public domain. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Statue_of_Liberty#/media/File:Statue-de-la-liberte-new-york.jpg
No comments:
Post a Comment